A trio of blocks harvested across Zena East and Zena West between Sept. 28 and Oct. 4 gave Idaho native Shane Moore the components for an earthy and yet fruity expression for Jackson Family Wines’ 7-year-old plantings west of Oregon’s capital city. A barrel program that's a bit lighter than either of his 2013 Slope or 2013 Sum bottlings gives this a profile of strawberry syrup … [Read more...] about Zena Crown Vineyard 2013 Conifer Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills, $75
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Ryan Patrick Vineyards 2015 Naked Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $12
Best Buy! Considering the quality of the vineyards involved - Evergreen, Newhouse, Sagemoor and Wautoma Winds - it makes sense to keep all of the focus on the fruit with this Chardonnay. As a result, its five months of surlie aging were done entirely without oak. That's the "naked" part. And Jeremy Santo’s work makes this downright yummy. Its theme of pineapple and lemon … [Read more...] about Ryan Patrick Vineyards 2015 Naked Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, $12
Pacific Rim Winemakers 2015 Spring Creek Vineyard Grüner Veltliner, Yakima Valley, $15
Best Buy! Spring Creek Vineyard isn’t far from the Pacific Rim vinification facility in West Richland, Wash., and Steven Sealock goes bone-dry with his latest example of Grüner Veltliner. In fact, it points far to the left of the IRF taste profile’s sweetness scale. The continued approach of half a year spent on the lees in old German wood barrels creates aromas of lime, Granny … [Read more...] about Pacific Rim Winemakers 2015 Spring Creek Vineyard Grüner Veltliner, Yakima Valley, $15
Chateau Ste. Michelle 2013 Indian Wells Red Blend, Columbia Valley, $20
A few years ago, the Indian Wells tier began to reflect a style that became synonymous with the Wahluke Slope vineyard. Head winemaker Bob Bertheau describes it as “unctuous,” and Syrah (52%) and Merlot (29%) always play leading roles in the Indian Wells Red Blend. Its namesake vineyard, as well as Cold Creek and Canoe Ridge Estate, three of Washington’s largest vineyards — an … [Read more...] about Chateau Ste. Michelle 2013 Indian Wells Red Blend, Columbia Valley, $20
The Elephant Seven Wine Co. 2014 Yellow Bird Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, $45
Reformed commodities trader Joshua West recently launched The Elephant Seven Wine Co., with the focus on Rhône varieties grown in the Walla Walla Valley. He sought out for this release Yellow Bird Vineyard, a 1,450-foot elevation site created in the Mill Creek region by Greg and Darlene Chan. West co-fermented these lots — half of them done whole cluster — using Joseph Phelps … [Read more...] about The Elephant Seven Wine Co. 2014 Yellow Bird Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, $45